George Lanfear

 

George Lanfear

George Lanfear, Mumbles.  Not a familiar name or well-known name associated with Mumbles.

The Cambrian

The Cambrian printed an article, “Old Army Staff Sergeant” December 1909, that Gorge Lanfear had died, aged 72.  George lived at Myrtle Terrace and that George had an outstanding army career, serving 22 years, where he served in the China Expedition and other campaigns. George had been awarded the Pekin Medal, 1860 and the Good Conduct.

George had been steward for 10 and half years at the Bristol Channel Yacht Club.

But who was George?

George was born during 1838, at Marlborough, Wiltshire.

George was one of the younger sons of Hezekiah Lanfear and Jemima Greenaway.  Their marriage banns having survived when they married during 1832, at St. Peter and St. Pauls church, Wiltshire.

Hezekiah Lanfear and Jemima Greenaway
marriage banns

The 1841 census.  This census, the first which was filled by the population, just lists the name of the person and their age and the main occupation.  And weather the person was born of where they lived at the time.

1841 Census

The census records. Hezekiah, 36; Elizabeth, 34 and their children Jane, 9; Reuben, 6; George, 3, and Henry 4 months old.

As to what happened to Hezekiah and Elizabeth is unclear, however, by the time of the 1851 census, George now 13 years old Is a Pauper and he is in the Union Workhouse.

1851 Census

1871 Census, George now 32, has enlisted and joined the army.  George who is a Sergeant, and served with the Army Service Corps.  His place of birth is recorded as Wiltshire.

1871 Census

1881 Census, George who is residing at 96 Broad Street, Reading.  His occupation is recorded as Inn Keeper.  George is now married to Jane Thornton. Jane had been widowed, her first husband Charles Frederick Michael Stock died, 1876.

1881 Census

Also present at the address on the census, 9-year-old Lizzie Turtle, niece and visitor, London born Robert Barnett, 41, who was an Engineer (Civil).

78 Great Green Street, St. Giles in the Fields, London, was the address where both George and Jane were resident at the time of the 1891 census.

1891 Census

George, 52, was a Housekeeper.  Employed by George are two servants, Minnie Green, 19, and Edward Dando, 39.

By the time of the 1901 Census, George and Jane had moved to Oystermouth where they were living at 9 Castle Square.

1901 Census

63-year-old George is recorded as a Retired Army Pensioner.  His place of birth is recorded as Marlborough, whilst Jane is 54.

They didn’t have any children.

Now widowed for the second time, Jane at the time of the 1911 Census, is a boarder at Louisa Robert’s boarding house, 27 Park Street, Mumbles. Jane died April 1925.

1911Census